Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-11-09
a 81. louis Ghost Story.

a ST. louis Ghost Story.
a strange story of ghostiy interference in
the affairs of men comes from Miss Lena
Herman. on whose authority it is offered to
the readers of the Globe Democrat 1t will
foAn another link in the chain of evidence
SO fast forming from'al! sides that there is o
spirit world, and that spirits do love their
friends who are dwellers upon earth in the
flesh, and that they do undoubtedly appear
to Us when there is sufficient cause for their
appearance.
Miss Herman was warm friend of the
murdered Mrs. Lena Reich, who was so
iouIy slain by her husband, Adolph Reich,
al IA Norfolk street, in this city, on the
night of April 19 last. Miss Herman had
not seen MIS-. Reich for several months prior
To the murder, and at the tune was living in
Boston. She has recently moved to Brook
lyn. She says: when was visiting Mrs.
Reich last January she was in great deal
Of trouble about her husband. She had been
obliged to have him bound to keep the
peace, which, however, he did not do, but
abused her shamefuliy. One day she said
! 10 me while we were sitting darning some
/ stockings: I ought never to have married
| Adolph it was my fault, and did it with
nv eyes open, for | was warned that he
would murder me. 1t happened this way.
Adolph had been courting me for some
| time, and / knew that I loved him.
One night, q terrible dark, storming
! winter night, he told me that he loved
me, and offered himself to me- ! &C.
knowledged that | was net Indifferent to
him, but asked & few days to think over the
matter and consult my friends. Adolph did
not like this delay, and tried 10 reason me
out of it. but | was firm and carried my
| point Well, we sat up very late that night
! together, no one else hut ourselves being in
the room. When be finally left 1t was past
midnight, and the weather was very cold, so
nxed up the fire 10 make me cup OF tea
to quiet my nerves and warm me up before
going 10 bed. was little sorry had
been SO positive to Adolph about the Time,
as loved him and l thought might as we'll
say yes any way, SO that he would have
gone home so much happier.
-. -" AS [ poured out my cup of tea ssid
aloud TO myself, Eyes, L love Adolph." Just
| then l heard g noise oD the stairs, and,
! thioking some ore was going by my door, l
turned of the gss, because ] did not want
auy one TO know was keeping such late
ruddY light, aud the half darkness Of the
room seemed so peaceful, and suited my
mood of plind so well, did not light the
gas again, out sat and slipped my Lea, in the
darkness, saying little things to myself
aloud Suddenly, however, heard slight
noise behind me, and at the same time heard
( the church clock strike the hour OF l Well,
( / looked around, without thought of any
thing strange, and oh well. what saw
almost froze my blood I drew back faint,
| but too much terrified to swoon. II was g
ghost, and nat of u man who had told me
his love and whom | had loved. Il was my
! Ernest You know she had been engaged
! to marry 6 young German, who died before
the ceremony was performed, almost at the
altar
"He was dressed in the same clothes as
qhsn [ saw him last, his wedding suit, for
we were going to our wedding when he
died of heart disease. His face was pale
and hloodless, his bair long and impaired,
his cheeks looked hollow, ard grave like
awe seemed to surround him. His terrible
eyes, du! and without expression, seemed
20 lower on me- [ shrieked and tried to fly
from the room, but he spoke: 'Do not
move, Lena | will not harm you. 1t is by
your mediumship that | appear, and even If
y
because love you and because pity you.
Lena, if you marry Adolph Reich you will
live the life OF dog. He will be cruel, and
italous, and unreasonable, and, worse than
all, he will murder you i'll the end. Yes.
he will murder you Stay | see the scene
now He grasps your hair he holds sharp
carving knife in the other hand you reach
out for the knife and seize it. when with a
terrible oath he draws the keen blade out
OF your grasp, and almost sewers your I'M
gers in doing so Oh he has you down on
the bed, be draws the knife, you struggle
and scream, but it's no use. He strikes
Oh! it takes effect-the blade be has
plunged into your neck, your beautiful
ueck He pulls the knife so rs to make the
cut greater. You struggle more vio-
lenty and escape. With the blood
squirting from your wound, you run from
the room and fall ip the hail. And the vii
lain escapes, carrying the knife with him.
On, terrible! tsrriblem
:" Then there Was silence; Ernest said
no more for some minutes. and was too
much Mortified TO speak; but again ne said
LENA, love you as much as 1 ever did,
and it won't be long now before you Join me
not marry Reich, as you value your life and
i SOUL. tafe"eis Oou Eeip Sou -anu ie
'Wel, 1 did not sleep that night. bat
next day Adolph came and told him l had
made up my mind not to marry now, aa We
were too poor. This led to q long argn
ment, aud somehow, don't know now i
was, I gave in at last. l loved him ! Wei
we became engaged, and in time were mar
: ried. have been miserable ever since, ant
r although I have never seen the ghost again
1 often feel as though there were spirit
around. I do believe that Adolph will xii
ne yet, ] sometimes dream Of the terrible